Are you thinking of moving to Jersey City but can’t seem to decide? This is normal when moving to a new place. But it’s always good to know what to expect. So, what’re the pros and cons of living in Jersey City?
Jersey City is a cool place to live. It has several advantages such as diversity, transit system, nightlife, attractions, and low gas prices. But don’t be surprised when you get here and discover it’s not all good. Disadvantages include living costs, rat problems, noise, traffic, and tax burden.
However, this city has a lot of positives for you despite its drawbacks. It’s almost impossible to fully understand what this city is all about until you’ve lived there. But you can know enough not to be surprised. This article looks at the pros and cons of living in Jersey City.
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Pros of Living in Jersey City
There are several features of this city that prove beneficial for residents. If you move there too, you’ll get to enjoy the following:
1. Diversity Among Residents
One of the significant benefits of living here is the diversity of its population. This isn’t just about ethnicity or cultural diversity. It’s a diversity that transcends every aspect. It’s a city that welcomes everyone. You’ll find everyone from working professionals to young families to senior citizens in this city. Moving here means you get to experience different cultures and meet all kinds of people. The diverse population also influences the cuisine as you will find delicacies from other countries and continents in this city.
2. Excellent Transit System
The public transit system in this city is quite efficient. No matter where you’re going, you can always count on finding mass transit options to get there on time. Train and bus systems connect every part of the city to the other.
According to WalkScore, Jersey City has a transit score of 71, which shows how convenient it is to get around the city with public transport. However, mass transit isn’t the only way to get around this city. Its walk score of 87 means that you can complete most errands on foot. It also has a bike score of 70, proof of the sufficient bike infrastructure in the city.
3. Amazing Nightlife
Jersey is a city for both families and working professionals. This is not some boring city where everything dies in the night. In Jersey, the night can be a lot of fun too. There are lots of restaurants, clubs, and bars in this city. There are so many clubs here that you could live for a lifetime, visit new clubs every weekend, and still have some clubs you’ve not been to. So, if you’re looking for a place with a great social life, Jersey is ideal for you.
4. Tons of Attractions and Activities
When we say there’s no boring time in Jersey City, it’s not just about the nightlife. There are lots of family-friendly activities that you can involve yourself in. You will find parks, museums, theatres, cinemas, gyms, etc., in the city. In addition, drive-in theatres are quite common here. So, if you want to bring back those nostalgic moments, you can always go on a fun date with your partner in one of these unique theatres.
5. Low Gas Prices
Jersey is not the cheapest city you can live in. But certain things aren’t costly here. The most notable is gas. No one knows exactly why, but gas prices are very low here, allowing you to save up on your gas-related expenses.
Cons of Living in Jersey
No city is complete without blemishes. For Jersey City, there are drawbacks that everyone who wants to live there needs to be aware of. They include.
1. Expensive Living Costs
Jersey City is one of the most expensive places to live in New Jersey. The city has a cost-of-living rate that is 46.8% higher than the national average. That makes it far higher than even the state average. Everything here costs more here. So, you should be earning more to cover the cost. But, of course, it depends mostly on which part of the city you’re staying. There are still parts of the city where things cost a lot less.
Furthermore, there’s no way we can talk about how expensive it is to live in Jersey without mentioning the cost of housing. Houses cost a lot more in Jersey City than the national and state average. The average price of a home in the city is $573,036. With homes costing this much, rents are equally expensive, with the average rent being $2,779. However, the prices will differ across neighborhoods. There are places where homes and rents cost less. So, it’s all about you making the necessary inquiries before picking which part of the city you live in.
2. Tax Burden
High taxes are common to all cities in New Jersey. This is because of its high state income tax and property taxes. Given the already high cost of living here, paying a substantial part of your taxes salary only makes it more expensive for the average worker. Jersey City is part of Hudson County, and its property tax rate is 2.31%.
3. Rat Problems
As weird as this might sound, this is a major issue in Jersey City. The rat population in the city continues to increase as there are no natural predators, and you’ll have to deal with this. In addition, you’re likely to find rats within your apartment in the winter as they escape the cold problem. Living in Jersey might mean owning a cat or any other animal to help you manage the rat problem.
4. Noisy City
Jersey City is a hub of economic and entertainment activities, and that has its downsides. The city is usually noisy and bustling; finding a quiet place might be a little tricky. It’s also common to find movie sets all around.
5. Traffic
Jersey City traffic is one of the worst in the country. Commute time is 36.8 minutes on average, which is far above the 26.4 minutes national average. The only easy way to get around this city is by taking public transit, mostly trains. The mass transit system is quite efficient, so 48.6% of residents use them to get to work.
In Conclusion
Jersey is a fantastic, diverse city with an efficient transport system, multiple amenities, and lots more. But it’s not a perfect place, and you’ll have to deal with issues ranging from traffic to rodents. However, most of the cons are not precisely deal breakers as some of them are common to most urban centers in the US.
